"Medicine is a social science, and politics is nothing else but medicine on a large scale"—Rudolf Virchow

July 05, 2012

Haiti: A look at the latest cholera numbers

Earlier today I posted the latest cholera statistics from MSPP's Documentation page, which as of July 3 gave 7,410 deaths since the outbreak began in October 2010. I've looked at the daily numbers from June 25 to July 3, and again I've seen some strange discrepancies.

For the most part, each day's cumulative numbers match the daily numbers: On July 3, for example, Artibonite had 31 new cholera cases and that matched the cumulative numbers for the day.

But here and there, the numbers were off. The national number of cases for June 25 was 166. But the cumulative number was 432 more than it had been on June 24. On June 28 the cumulative national number jumped by 1,414 cases. Centre department reported 39 new cases that day, but its cumulative number rose by 84. Port-au-Prince on June 28 listed 61 new cases, but its cumulative number was 1,153 more than the day before.

I've emailed MSPP, asking for an explanation. If I get one, I'll post it here.

Comments

Haiti: A look at the latest cholera numbers

Earlier today I posted the latest cholera statistics from MSPP's Documentation page, which as of July 3 gave 7,410 deaths since the outbreak began in October 2010. I've looked at the daily numbers from June 25 to July 3, and again I've seen some strange discrepancies.

For the most part, each day's cumulative numbers match the daily numbers: On July 3, for example, Artibonite had 31 new cholera cases and that matched the cumulative numbers for the day.

But here and there, the numbers were off. The national number of cases for June 25 was 166. But the cumulative number was 432 more than it had been on June 24. On June 28 the cumulative national number jumped by 1,414 cases. Centre department reported 39 new cases that day, but its cumulative number rose by 84. Port-au-Prince on June 28 listed 61 new cases, but its cumulative number was 1,153 more than the day before.

I've emailed MSPP, asking for an explanation. If I get one, I'll post it here.